Babs’ New Year’s Resolution 87 © Copyright Beverly Taff May 2021

List of Characters.

Lola Smith Bab’s adopted trans daughter.
Callista Denton (Callie). Transgendered Duchess of Denton.
Margaret Denton (Maggie). Callie’s wife.
Molly Denton Callie’s grandmother
Ellie Denton Callie’s mother.
Bab’s Barbara Smith. Lola’s adoptive ‘Nana’
Olivia Smith Bab’s adopted daughter. (Excellent Artist.)
Angela Smith Bab’s newly adopted daughter
Erica Bab’s foster daughter.
Sergeant Bridie Davies Lady Police detective protecting the girls.
Sergeant Brian Davies. Bridie’s twin brother.
Inspector John, Heading up the anti-rape-gang operation.
Gareth Jenkins, Police office trained in firearms and protection.
Belinda Harrington Lola’s university girlfriend.
Aaron Talbot Surgical registrar – married to –
Shirley Talbot Lecturer at Local university.
Mickey Talbot Aaron and Shirley’s oldest son.
Jessica Talbot Aaron & Shirley’s middle daughter.
Bianca Talbot Aaron & Shirley’s youngest daughter.
Henry Denton Callie’s only son.
Charlotte Denton Callie’s only daughter.
Beverly Callie’s maternal great aunt (Ellie’s paternal aunt)
Wendy Smith Beverly’s Operations Manager for Hull
Louisa Wendy’s Daughter
Griselda & Mia Wendy’s younger twin daughters.
Susan Harvey Prosecution counsel advocating for Erica in court.
Han’s The German policeman’s son whom Erica really fancies.
Uncle Phillip CIA Agent.
Emily Jackson. Texan girl Kidnapped to Holland & Turkey
Sandra Jackson Sister to Emily kidnapped in Texas as a hostage.

Chapter 87

Amidst considerable squealing and joyous laughter the raft paddled into the mid-stream were some final instructions were issued and the girls teamwork put to the test in the forgiving waters of a long, smooth stretch. It did not take long for the enthusiastic teamsters to achieve an acceptable degree of control and the raft was soon approaching a modest rapid to accustom the girls to rough water.

After this baptism amidst squeals of delight, there followed the next calm section were the girls had time to relax as the pace slowed to a pleasant drift and they could admire the rock formations and spectacular cliffs. A dreamy silence settled over the raft as the girls savoured the brief tranquillity. Here the guid took the opportunity to explain the strategy for approaching a blind rapids where the only tells were the ‘vee’ disturbance on the surface of the water. There was little secret to it, he explained, all it required was muscle power to align the raft between the ‘tell-tale’ ripples then paddle as hard as the guide instructed.

Having imbibed the instructions the girls settled down expectantly as they heard the soft rumble of the approaching rapids.

ooo000ooo

Each girl was holding an oar or paddle in anticipation of instructions from the guide when there was a sharp crack and a fountain of water sprang up behind the raft and the guide let out a curse.

“Dammit! Some idiot’s shooting a rifle!”

Apart from the guide only Lola and Sandra had noticed the splash but on seeing it and hearing the guide they both squealed, -

“Paddle like Hell, somebody’s shooting AT us.”

“It’ll just be some idiot!” The guide tried to explain as he called into his radio.

Both Sandra and Lola shouted again.

“No! No! There’s still some gangsters after us. We have to get clear!”

With that a second bullet slapped into one of the bags and nearly everybody saw it. The guide cursed again and bellowed into his radio . After reporting the situation and location, he set to co-ordinating the girls efforts and the raft picked up speed as it made for the rapids while picking a route that took them under an overhang that rendered them invisible from where the guide deemed the sniper to be.
The guide knew the canyon like the back of his hand and reckoned roughly where the sniper had chosen to get his shots in. Another shot whined past Erica’s ear and slapped again into another tent bag. The fourth shot ricocheted of the rock and banged onto the raft floorboards at Olivia’s feet.

By then the raft was surging towards the rapids and the guide started yelling instructions as he concluded they were not going down the approved route. The side channel beside the overhanging cliff was more dangerous though not perilously so. However, the guide knew it would be something of a baptism of fire for the girls.

Seconds later, the bow of the raft plunged over the step and immediately all the girls and the guide were immersed into the water before the raft reared up spectacularly and slewed across the river to rock furiously before swinging around. The guide bellowed instructions to the girls and they struggled mightily to align the raft with the stream.

This done, the raft shot out of the narrow, high sided, gully and squirted into the lower pool.

“Paddle for the shore!” The guide ordered. “We need to bale the boat.”

“Can’t we just keep going and get away from him?” Lola replied.

“I’m sure I know where he’s laid up! He can’t see that little beach. I want to make sure he hasn’t punctured us.”

Knowing this, the girls desperately headed to the beach and the guide posted the girls as lookouts as he checked the raft. Minutes later he affirmed.

“The raft’s intact, we’d best make down river. I’ll give the park rangers and the police regular head’s ups’ until we can rendezvous.”

The girls needed no encouragement to ‘skid-addle’ and all hands bent to the paddles and oars while the guide set up one of the outboard motors normally reserved for emergencies. Peace began to reign eventually as the reassuring growl of the outboard caused the raft to surge forward across the long passage of smooth water.

“He won’t catch us now.” The guide reassured them. You should have warned us about a sniper. There are a hundred spots he could choose. When we arrive at the campsite tonight we’ll have to search for the bullets lodged in the bags. They’ll be good evidence if or when they catch him.”

“Will they catch him?” Angie asked.

“The park rangers are pretty good, look, here comes their helicopter, he wants us to land at the regular beach and they’ll be waiting for us being as nobody’s hurt.”

“How long will that be?” Erica checked.

‘Bout three hours. You might as well enjoy the rest of today’s ride.”

Olivia frowned thoughtfully.

“When we reach that beach, I think I want out. They could easily ambush us again.”
This put all the girls into a seriously contemplative mood and Angie asked again.

“Is there anywhere else where they can get a serious shot at us. It doesn’t have to be any of us, it need only puncture the raft in a rapid.”

The guide fell silent. He knew the risks but he didn’t want any bad publicity for his business. Eventually he conceded.

“Let’s find out what the park rangers and the police have to say when we beach this evening. There’s nowhere he can get a clear shot between now and this evening’s beach. The canyon’s too narrow and we’ll be going too fast,”

For want of anything more certain the girls had to agree. There was no way out of the canyon until they reached the designated beach. Resignedly, the set off for the next section of the canyon. The guide contacted the park authorities on his radio and confirmed their intent then to everybody’s relief, a helicopter appeared and confirmed its identity as two police armed with rifles were landed on a flat rock for the raft to collect them.

“Bloody ‘ell!” Olivia observed loudly, “Annie get yer gun an’ all that! This is crazy!”

“But safer.” Erica advised.” What d’you say Lola.”

“Gorra’ be, ‘ain’t it?” Lola confirmed. “I wonder how that sniper knew about our trip?”

As they paddled furiously towards the rock the police scanned the surrounding rocks then hopped easily onto the raft.

“You girls okay?” The younger officer checked.

“Yeah nothing hurt but our dignity.” Emily declared.

“And we’re soaking.” Sandra added.

“It’s a rafting holiday!” The second police officer chuckled. “Anyway, we think we’ve already got a lead. There’s another chopper searching where we think he was laid up and a couple of people have been spotted. The ranger teams are planning to intercept them as they try to leave the canyon.”

After that, there was not much time for conversation as the raft entered the next section of rapids. Half an hour later the guide checked with his radio as one of the officers listened in. A satisfied smile. They then turned to the girls.

“It seems they’ve caught one and they’re chasing another. He dropped his rifle as they pursued him with the chopper.”

The mood on the raft improved considerably and whenever conditions allowed between the excitement of the rapids, the girls chatted contentedly with both the police and the guides. By the time they arrived at the prearranged overnight camping beach, a sense of community had developed. As they prepared to camp another helicopter with a forensics team arrived and the forensics officers emphasised the importance of finding the bullets that had lodged in the tent bags. Taking extra care, they soon found the two stray bullets. One of them was virtually unmarked while the second had grazed a tent stay but it was intact enough to provide additional proof.

“Bang to rights! As you guys say in England.” The forensics officer grinned.

“Have they caught both of them?” Olivia asked.

“Yes, and the rifle.”

“Why did they do it?” Sandra asked.

“These drug cartels will kill just to enforce silence. Few people will stick their hands up and be witnesses when they know the gangs will come after their family.”

“Will they still be coming after us even after those snipers have been caught?” Lola pressed.

The senior police officer sucked in his breath thoughtfully.

“Hard to say. If you lived in Mexico or Guatemala, you’d be at risk but being as you live in the UK, you should be safer.”

“D’ you think so?” Erica scorned as she reflected what the others were already thinking. “We were living under lockdown for months during our trials in England.”

“You’re preaching to the choir officer.” Lola explained as she went on to describe their previous experiences.

On hearing their story both Emile and Sandra Jackson observed.

“Are we here safe in Texas? It’s right next door to Mexico.”

“There’ll be a witness protection scheme made available if you want it, I suppose.”

“Gee thanks.” Sandra replied. “Just what every girl needs.”

“Just count yourselves lucky,” Lola riposted, “back home if the gangs find out where we live or anything, we’re just sitting ducks or we have to move again. We’re not allowed guns to fight back.”

“That’s a piss-hole,” Emily commiserated.”

“Yeah, but there’s less chance of being shot.” Erica added.

Olivia let out a shriek of protest. “Fuck off!!” Just look at Babs’ she’s been shot twice!”

“Not quite,” Lola corrected, “shot at twice, but only hit once; still it’s bummer when you can’t fight back.”

The chatter continued around the campfire until the guides, girls and escorting police, sought their beds. The news about the assassin’s capture had calmed things down but the police had been posted for that night at least.

ooo000ooo